Survivors And Caregivers Take Part In Annual Relay For Life Of Owen County

by Michael Stanley

Staff Writer

Lalla Lee of Worthington and Shelly Keasling, right, of Spencer lead the Survivors Lap as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2013 Relay For Life of Owen County. (Staff Photo) Early detection was a blessing for Spencer resident Stan Bault, a cancer survivor who is fortunate enough to say he was spared the radiation and chemotherapy treatments the majority of cancer patients endure.

“The doctor said, ‘Those X-rays showed a tumor on one of your kidneys’... the first thing we thought was cancer,” Bault told the crowd gathered for Friday evening’s opening ceremonies of the 2013 Relay For Life of Owen County.

“We didn’t know what was ahead of us. A few days later I went to see the urologist,” Bault said. “As he looked at the X-rays he said, ‘You’ve pulled a muscle, it’s nothing to worry about, I’ve seen things like this and I really don’t think it’s cancer.’”

Team Faith members Keith Shrum, team captain Mary Shrum and daughter Hope Shrum, far left, walk during the Survivors Lap. (Staff Photo) The doctor told Bault his consumption of fresh cow’s milk growing up had likely caused a calcium deposit, which he would remove as a precaution.

“After the surgery, he said, ‘We got everything... I had to take one-quarter of your kidney off, but it’s taken care of,” Bault said. “I went back for a check-up a few weeks later after he got the biopsy back and he says, ‘That surprised me, it was cancer.’ His nurses were there when we walked in, they looked at my chart and said, ‘You’re the lucky one. Most people who leave here leave with a bad report and you’re leaving with a good report.’

“It’s by the grace of God that the cancer was found early enough. I didn’t have to go through the treatments and people didn’t know about it, I didn’t talk about it.”

Autumne Baker, the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Owen County representative, speaks to the crowd gathered for the opening ceremonies of this year’s event. (Staff Photo) Bault joined nearly two dozen fellow survivors and their caregivers for the annual Survivors Lap around the Owen Valley High School track to kick-off the festivities, which continued throughout the night and into Saturday morning.

The top Relay For Life of Owen County fund-raising team with a total of $3,149.50 as of Monday afternoon was Owen County State Bank, led by captain Kim Wall. The 21 team members of Small Miracles, led by Reni Arthur, had raised $2,549.47, followed by team captain Cassy Murphy’s Team Faith with a total of $4,209.80.

Walter Sadler and his wife, Patricia Sadler, of Spencer walk during the Survivors Lap of the 2013 Relay for Life of Owen County. (Staff Photo) The Mountain Movers, led by captain D.J. Bault, had raised $1,443.55 as of Monday afternoon, with the Jacob Balash led Spencer Pride team following close behind with a total of $1,022.

The Patriot Party Pack, led by captain Cecelia Herrington, had raised $712.31, while McCormick’s Creek Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center had raised $501.86. Spencer Walmart, led by captain Carla Pruett, raised $415, while Too Inspired To Be Tired, led by captain Martha Hauk, had raised $412.12. Team-John, led by captain John Schrock, raised $213.

Stan Bault, a cancer survivor and resident of Spencer, tells the story of his successful fight against cancer, which he attributed to early detection. (Staff Photo)
Spencer residents Linda St. John, left, and Cindy Dow were among those who walked during the Survivors Lap of the 2013 Relay for Life of Owen County. (Staff Photo)